The Tightrope - Teaching & Training Martial Arts
Walking the Tightrope. Teaching and Studying Martial Arts.
by Alex Wright.
To study martial arts is often a lifelong love, it’s hard for those not involved to appreciate how obsessed you can get about a hobby that to outsiders often looks like a bunch of guys having a bit of a punch up or rolling around on the floor. The great warriors of era’s past however had this obsession too. This path can’t be mistaken for the necessity of a soldiers’ skill where his savvy and craft is there to keep him alive on the battlefield, legendary fighters such as Miyamoto Musashi, author of the famous “Book of Five Rings” actively sought duels that could have led to his own death during times of peace in feudal Japan. Gladiators in Rome were not all slaves in fact many were young Roman men seeking glory and reputation more akin to today’s rock stars than any need to fight in battle.
To become skilled in martial arts is a difficult path and very few of the many who start truly gain any skill of note. In many of my articles previously I have been scathing of pretenders teaching groups doomed to fail because their teacher has not the honesty to show his own weaknesses. The paradox is that the best teachers must always remain students and those who are too insecure in their own skill to learn in front of their students should lay down their black belts until a time when they feel more secure.
The Tightrope.....
Being a teacher, Instructor, Sifu or Sensei is not easy. You must command a class, inspire, lead, understand, empathise, guide and organise. It can be one of the most rewarding experiences you could have but also one of the most frustrating and painful.
To also remain a student whilst all this is going on can be almost impossible. My first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teacher Dave Elliot was one of the most inspirational men I have met on this subject. His dedication to training usually 5 or 6 nights a week (this was before he went professional in terms of teaching!) coupled with training for professional MMA fights and at that time also doing a full time job was almost unbelievable. Many would see one side of this which was the glory of being a fighter but consider how brave it is to show your students you can also lose. That you are not infallible or the best there is? How many teachers of martial arts have this confidence in their skill?
The investment of time, energy, money and your passion into a group of people is often difficult for even the students of martial arts to appreciate. The feeling when your students seem not to appreciate your efforts, don’t turn up for class, have something better to do? I imagine it is as close to the father/son relationship as it can be the prodigal son syndrome is also quite prevalent here as talented students disappear and then return often with other students wondering why you have accepted them back so warmly into the heart of your group. Indeed the translation of Sifu is father. The best teachers take on this responsibility in no small way. You do not just show a bunch of guys techniques, you care about their development, want each and everyone to get what you get out of it and maybe more. My good friend, MMA fighter, training partner and himself a fine teacher Pete Irving perfectly illustrates one of the many difficulties faced by a good martial arts teacher (although Pete prefers the term Combat Sports) by saying “If you are honest and show your students your whole game then they quickly start to catch you up pushing you to train harder and to learn more”. This is in my view a fantastic illustration of how a good teacher approaches his task.
To be the student of your own teacher.
In many respects as you grow and learn it gets harder and harder to be taught. Not just because of your own advancing skill level but because just as young men fight and conflict with their fathers the “sons” of Sifu or Sensei become inquisitive to branch out and seek independence. It is inevitable that conflicts arise but just a good son always respects a good father, a student respects his teacher for the investment he has made in him. In turn a teacher can learn and develop his own skills both in technical and teaching terms from his own maturing students. To lose a student who has become skilled and mature is painful for a teacher. But to watch one mature whilst maintaining his relationship with his sifu is most rewarding.
The students of your student will see you like a grandfather. In some ways I see my teacher Alan Orr as having surpassed my Sigung (teachers teacher or grandfather) but whose skill level in any particular area is higher becomes irrelevant because it is progression that is key. The fact Sigung Robert Chu guided Alan to such a high level and allowed him the freedom to explore, grow and surpass is a testament to his excellence as a teacher and his modesty and courage as a man. So many kung fu, Karate, martial arts masters place themselves on a throne and foolishly profess their skills as infallible (usually in no small part due to financial interest) it is rare to find such men.
The example of a teacher will always rub off on his better students and in turn hopefully make them fine teachers. My sifu Alan Orr at a gathering of his students and instructors last month watched me demonstrate a choke I had learned from my Jiu Jitsu teacher Dave Harewood and then jokingly showed the class saying “here’s a new one I learned 20 seconds ago, good isn’t it” this is not so normal amongst teachers, I have seen a well known kung fu teacher get caught out by a perfectly executed lap sau technique during a chi sau exchange and instead of being gracious he decided to show the guy a way to “Do it right” such was his fear of being exposed to be fallible.
Students - Keeping your end of the bargain.
Sometimes to be a good student is as difficult as to be a good teacher. The student places much trust in their teacher (which also makes choosing the right teacher rather crucial see related article “any questions”) and will inevitably question certain aspects of what is being taught or methodology as they increase their understanding of martial arts, bad teachers may find this intimidating but good teachers will thrive on such situations. It is always our duty as students to question and push our abilities as much as it is the role of the instructor to drive and co ordinate your learning process. This relationship gets more complex as the student advances. It can often be here where splits occur and good students can potentially miss out on the skills which might eventually elevate them to beyond the level of their teacher. Just as the father and son example previously it is important for a student to remember that sometimes the things that may frustrate them about their teachers ways will be the things that actually made them as good as they are. Just as the son begins to realise his father is as fallible as any man and for a while is disappointed by his own unrealistic expectation. However as the adolescent becomes a man he accepts these facts and begins to see what his father has made him into giving him the due respect that he rightly deserves.
Its the duty of the student more than any other to frequently train and to be there not only for themselves but for the others in their group both the more and less advanced of their “Si Hung” (Brothers)
This can often be difficult as life presents its own twist and turns, training can sometimes be like a microcosm of that process too. We all will fail the group and our responsibilities from time to time but as long as we strive to succeed then eventually we will have opportunity to realise our potential.
This article is dedicated to my teacher Alan Orr who has been Sifu in absolutely the best meaning of the word. From whom I have been the recipient & witness of unquestioning generosity, benefited from honest and inspirational teaching, received support in many areas, disagreed and argued with, developed and trained with and shared good times. Alan is a credit to his teacher and my Sigung Robert Chu. Also Importantly Alan Orr is a pioneer for modern Wing Chun and has dragged the system out of a cluttered “traditional” mess and done a great deal to bring some respect back to Wing Chun Kung Fu. When I met Alan I was 4 hours away from leaving Wing Chun behind and contiuing my boxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with a so long and good luck attittude like I had done with Tae Kwon Do years earlier. I never regretted leaving TKD behind for a second but am now pleased I met a man like Alan Orr with whom I share a vision for modern Wing Chun outside of the classical mess Bruce Lee described many years previous.
I must also mention my other teachers who have all made significant contributions to my development (in chronological order). Trevor Jefferson, Lee Mair, Dave Elliot who made a huge difference to myself and many of my good friends such as Pete Irving, Bryan Moore and Pete Tiarks. Last but by no means least to Dave Harewood, a fantastic teacher, generous man and the best kept secret in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Alex Wright
Chu Sau Lei Instructor